Audi has revealed its 2013 A3 Sportback in Munich ahead of the model's official debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show later this week, and Autoblog was on hand for the early unveiling. Like its three-door cousin, the third-generation five-door wears subtly evolved styling inside and out as well as a longer wheelbase, more interior room and a commendable weight savings of around 198 pounds over its predecessor. This particular model wears the line's optional LED headlamps and features a bi-fuel powertrain as part of the Audi e-Gas project. The exercise uses electrolysis to generate hydrogen, which is then combined with carbon dioxide to create methane, or natural gas. The result is what Audi is calling a "carbon-neutral" fuel.
Since compressed natural gas stations can be few and far between, however, the A3 also makes use of a 13-gallon gasoline tank to help give the machine an effective range of around 745 miles. The 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine features injectors for both natural gas and gasoline and can seamlessly switch between the two fuels while driving. After perusing our high-res image gallery, you can take a look at the full press release on the 2013 Audi A3 Sportback below.
Via: 2013 Audi A3 Sportback e-Gas Project shows off carbon-neutral fuel
2013 Audi A3 Sportback e-Gas Project shows off carbon-neutral fuel Gallery
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